There have been many articles written suggesting that there is an increase in depression amongst our children and young people. These suggestions note the increase in children who are prescribed antidepressants and other drugs to control their emotions.

It is difficult to assess the validity of an increase in depression among children and young people due to the lack of data from previous generations, and also the expectations of young people and children of previous generations. There are also many people who look at the past with rose coloured glasses, assuming that depression was not something that affected the previous generation of children.

Nevertheless, whether there has been an increase or not, depression in young people is a relevant issue. Sometimes the development of depressive thinking is set in early childhood, through pessimistic thinking patterns.

The world of psychology has made significant progress in the understanding of thinking, and because of this we are able to understand and manage depression better than we have in other generations.

Many young people find themselves in a hole with their depressive thoughts and are unable to get themselves out of it and are resistant to their family and friends support.

The most difficult aspect of depression is that it takes away the logical thought patterns and replaces it with illogical self harming behaviour which supports depression?s continued existence. Depression then becomes part of a young persons life and sadly, establishing their identity.

For example: Charlie may feel like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, he can?t get out of bed and he just wants to sleep through everything. He then makes some choices; He avoids school, (where he will see friends who are sometimes happy), he avoids looking at people, smiling or having conversations, (where he has the chance to get positive feedback about himself), he doesn?t turn up to parties or goes with the intention of getting so drunk he cant remember anything (this way he can make any interaction with friends only negative). Charlie continues to make choices that keep his depression growing. He pushes people away, who care about him and he chooses people who are also depressed or hurting to be with.  Depressive thinking convinces Charlie that he should choose things that make him feel worse.

Registered Psychologists and Social Workers are trained to deal with depressive thinking patterns. Therapy involves learning how depression takes over and learning strategies to deal with making good choices even when you don?t feel like it.  This takes time and is hard work. Many young people who suffer from depressive thinking say ?No one understands, and they think I can just snap out of it?. This is hard to hear from worried parents which is why trained professionals are often needed to help the young person to think more clearly. Challenging thinking patterns can be done in groups or with individual counselling. Young people often prefer groups where they can see how others negotiate their changes. This way they feel supported. What ever the case, depression can be challenged and change in thinking patterns can be achieved, no matter how old you are?

Lyn Worsley, Psychologist, Director Alpha Counselling Services